Ashleigh Clarke Architects' experience spans from environmental retrofits of existing buildings to the complete planning and design of new neighbourhoods and public spaces. The company specialises in residential projects, particularly within the Cotswolds, AONB, and Conservation Areas, and work in partnership with specialist heritage consultants and historic and Listed buildings.
With over 10 years’ experience within the local area, they are trusted Cotswold architects and a RIBA Chartered architectural practice. Many of the company's luxury projects have been inspired by the beautiful surrounding landscape: its colours, contours and light. As so many of their clients live in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the team have built up extensive experience in obtaining Planning Permissions for Listed Buildings and properties situated within the AONB. The team at Ashleigh Clarke Architects understands the ins and outs of the planning application process, and specialist permissions required, and they can guide you confidently through each stage.
As Ashleigh Clarke explains "Everybody understands what we mean by ‘soulless architecture’ – A house or a workplace where your heart sinks a little every time you walk through the door. As architects, we believe that architecture should aspire to be so much more and inspire it’s inhabitants – a space which is perfectly designed to not only meet your practical needs, but to also bring harmony to your home.
It could be a new picture window that inspires you every time you look out or a new school building that inspires your children to be the best they can be. Simple, brilliant spatial solutions are as pleasing as they are ambitious, innovative architectural designs.
Your project may be residential or commercial. It could be an extension to a modern build or a barn conversion that combines the stunning features of a traditional oak-beamed building with contemporary floor to ceiling glazing, flooding interiors with natural light and maximising views of the surrounding countryside. The morning light falling on a wall, or a panoramic window that reveals the changing seasons is something to take quiet pleasure in, every single day. To us, this is the true meaning of Luxury Architecture: the luxury of space and light, not simply expensive fixtures and bespoke fittings."
"Whilst our work is aesthetically diverse, our projects are always linked by a focus on enhancing human relationships through architecture. Our style is traditional luxury high-end architecture, sometimes with a modern twist with large glazing and glass links. We are surrounded by the beautiful Heritage and Historical buildings of the Cotswolds. Over the last 10 years, Ashleigh Clarke Architects has built up extensive specialist knowledge working with Listed buildings sympathetically and sustainably."
"Linden House is a detached, eight-bedroom traditional house with a mature garden, which enjoys stunning views over the Cotswolds.
Private client approached us with an ambitious and exciting brief. This was our second project at Linden House, as we had already worked with them on a complete refurbishment and we were delighted to receive a second commission. This new project was, in their words “a very complicated and complex side and rear extension.”
Like most clients, there was a clear vision of what they wanted. To them, the existing living room didn’t match the size of the house and couldn’t accommodate their family and friends.
It was cramping their style, in all senses of the word. Their brief to us was to design a brand new, multi-functional contemporary extension that combined both living room and garden room – connecting to the stunning garden views. They also wanted a larger patio area for entertaining and relaxing, and a more accessible connection between the new living space and the kitchen.
Because we’re Cotswold architects we create architectural designs both sensitive and sympathetic to their surroundings. For us, Linden House is a perfect example of this.
Our design concept for a spacious living and garden room included striking, full-width glazing with sliding doors, a contemporary fireplace in the living space that cunningly conceals the structural pillar necessary to support the new extension and enlarged access to the existing kitchen.
Viewed from the front, the new extension mirrors the steeper roof pitch lines of the original building, so a sense of symmetry is maintained between old and new. We also chose a Cotswold stone to match the original building. Our aim was to blend traditional and contemporary aesthetics so well that from the front of the property, you wouldn’t guess the space that exists behind.
While at the back of the property, the newly constructed flat roof is hidden by the full-width glazing and glazed panel above the doors, disguising the addition of the new, luxury living space that now connects the house and the garden.
Our clients loved the design from the first sketch. Linden House now has a spacious living and garden area, in keeping with the character of the original property. Our clients and their friends can now enjoy floor-to-ceiling views of the garden and surrounding countryside, whatever the weather."
